Anybody switch to Norwegian (or sail Norwegian now more frequently)?

[UPNYGuy]

True, the NCL cabins are not as comfortable as HAL's; in fact, I believe someone at NCL must have scoured the world marketplace for the most uncomfortable sofa in existence. However, the reasonably priced NCL balconies MORE than make up for it.

 

 

Exactly. We can sail in a balcony on NCL for what HAL charges for an inside (balcony cabins are nice too). Plus the service is a full notch above where Holland is as of right now as of a shipboard standpoint. Norwegian has more staff on the ships, so staff are ALWAYS to be found. On our first sailing on Breakaway, we bumped into our cabin steward who was enjoying his night off. He was in one of the cocktail lounges. HE actually saw us first, and pulled us aside to make sure our cruise was what we expected, and that we were enjoying ourselves. We have also had (on multiple NCL sailings now) restaurant managers come over, thank us for dining with them that evening, and make sure that our meal was what we expected. One night, one of the managers misinterpreted something I said as that I did not enjoy it (when it was fantastic) and apologizing profusely, telling me that they would replace it promptly with another dish and asked what I wanted. I immediately jumped up, hugged her, and told her that I didn't like it... I LOVED it... :). DW gave me the "Gibbs smack" on the back of the head for that one...

 

My point is, that I can't ever recall bumping into my cabin steward outside of my cabin on HAL, let alone them asking if my cruise was living up to my expectations, and what the company needs to do better. And the restaurant managers were ALWAYS circulating. NCL really does care about the guest experience. Are they perfect??? Of course not!!! But most of the complaints stem from individuals unaware of how NCL operates (lots of specialty restaurants). However, if research is done, one will find that they have the greatest number of included options per passenger out of any of the majors.

 

 

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[DeeniEncinitas]

I am guessing this is on the HAL forum because you are comparing. I would think that if you are giving your praises about NCL, it should be on the NCL forums. The original post sounds to me like you are trying to sway people to NCL from HAL. I think the post is OK but it should be moved to the NCL forum in my opinion, which is not everyone's opinion.

 

Diane

 

I agree with Diane! We switched to HAL back in 2001! We did not like the large ship and never being able to get a lounge chair next to the pool, and such long lines everywhere! Enjoy NCL, for us there is no comparison!

 

3STAR MARINER becoming a 4 on up coming cruise:)

 

Sailing Nieuw Amsterdam B2B western/eastern Caribbean Cruise 3/15/2015

[Tarpeian Rock]

Exactly. We can sail in a balcony on NCL for what HAL charges for an inside (balcony cabins are nice too). Plus the service is a full notch above where Holland is as of right now as of a shipboard standpoint. Norwegian has more staff on the ships, so staff are ALWAYS to be found. On our first sailing on Breakaway, we bumped into our cabin steward who was enjoying his night off. He was in one of the cocktail lounges. HE actually saw us first, and pulled us aside to make sure our cruise was what we expected, and that we were enjoying ourselves. We have also had (on multiple NCL sailings now) restaurant managers come over, thank us for dining with them that evening, and make sure that our meal was what we expected. One night, one of the managers misinterpreted something I said as that I did not enjoy it (when it was fantastic) and apologizing profusely, telling me that they would replace it promptly with another dish and asked what I wanted. I immediately jumped up, hugged her, and told her that I didn't like it... I LOVED it... :). DW gave me the "Gibbs smack" on the back of the head for that one...

 

My point is, that I can't ever recall bumping into my cabin steward outside of my cabin on HAL, let alone them asking if my cruise was living up to my expectations, and what the company needs to do better. And the restaurant managers were ALWAYS circulating. NCL really does care about the guest experience. Are they perfect??? Of course not!!! But most of the complaints stem from individuals unaware of how NCL operates (lots of specialty restaurants). However, if research is done, one will find that they have the greatest number of included options per passenger out of any of the majors.

 

 

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Very interesting comments. So my question is: with major fixed costs presumably the same between NCL and HAL (fuel, salaries, food, port charges, insurance, overhead) AND with management/investors expecting a reasonable level of profit, how is NCL able to deliver more for less money? If must be coming from somewhere.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Being Hal is deserting the West Coast, they are leaving us with no choice but to go with other cruise lines. We like Princess and are looking into maybe trying NCL.

 

I live right in the heart of San Diego at the beach in Encinitas, Calif. Surprise to us that HAL is deserting us. They have limited Mexican cruises and we have done way too many, on several of HAL'S ships but Panama, Hawaii, Tahiti, Alaska, Australia, I can go on! HAL is here to stay!

 

3STAR MARINER becoming 4STAR on next cruise

Sailing Nieuw Amsterdam B2B western/eastern Caribbean Cruise 3/15/2015

[Lizzie68]

I don`t understand why people are so afraid of this topic that they object to it being on the board. I, for one, appreciate the comparisons and especially information from LAFFNVEGAS who has long been a valued member of this board. No one can `recruit` potential passengers - we are all grown-up people with a mind of our own.:rolleyes: I think most people are interested in the information and can do with it what they choose. Let`s not try to censor it.

[soccerpapi]

Dear Lisa,

 

I have always found your reviews, tips, information about whichever cruise line you have posted about to be fair.

 

You have passed a long some great information and insights about Holland America that's for sure.

 

soccer

[UPNYGuy]

Very interesting comments. So my question is: with major fixed costs presumably the same between NCL and HAL (fuel, salaries, food, port charges, insurance, overhead) AND with management/investors expecting a reasonable level of profit, how is NCL able to deliver more for less money? If must be coming from somewhere.

 

 

Specialty restaurant up charges and premium entertainment up charges. Like I said, I'd rather pay for a premium show (blue man group) than suffer through the dreck that HAL puts out. DW and I are 3 star and have sailed on over half of the HAL fleet, so we have a good idea of the product they have ;(

 

 

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Edited August 29, 2014 by UPNYGuy

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Count me as one who always enjoys your posts and is happy to learn from them. Your opinion is valued by many other posters as well.

 

:) Thank you Sapper

[UPNYGuy]

I don`t understand why people are so afraid of this topic that they object to it being on the board. I, for one, appreciate the comparisons and especially information from LAFFNVEGAS who has long been a valued member of this board. No one can `recruit` potential passengers - we are all grown-up people with a mind of our own.:rolleyes: I think most people are interested in the information and can do with it what they choose. Let`s not try to censor it.

 

 

Lizzie, people are very defensive of HAL because now other lines have caught up to them in terms of service (and even surpassed them). HAL has a fiercely loyal following, while the other lines most typically compared to HAL have a "shared" following (NCL, RCL, CCL). I did not include Celebrity, as most who cruise Celebrity would state that X is a full step above HAL.

 

 

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[LAFFNVEGAS]

I don`t understand why people are so afraid of this topic that they object to it being on the board. I, for one, appreciate the comparisons and especially information from LAFFNVEGAS who has long been a valued member of this board. No one can `recruit` potential passengers - we are all grown-up people with a mind of our own.:rolleyes: I think most people are interested in the information and can do with it what they choose. Let`s not try to censor it.

 

Dear Lisa,

 

I have always found your reviews, tips, information about whichever cruise line you have posted about to be fair.

 

You have passed a long some great information and insights about Holland America that's for sure.

 

soccer

 

Thanks to both of you :) I do try to post fairly and the good and the bad. HAL is the cruise line that got me truly hooked on cruising along with this HAL board :D

[idiebabe]

I've sailed NCL Sun and didn't care for them at all or the Ship. We thought the food except in the Specialty Restaurants was awful! We had a balcony room and thought the furnishings was chintzy and the room smaller and the Shower tiny (and I'm not a big person). Also, wasn't a fan of how they handled Anytime Dining!

 

Different Strokes for Different Folks! :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Very interesting comments. So my question is: with major fixed costs presumably the same between NCL and HAL (fuel, salaries, food, port charges, insurance, overhead) AND with management/investors expecting a reasonable level of profit, how is NCL able to deliver more for less money? If must be coming from somewhere.

Here is my take on what is making a cruise line profitable. It truly is all about how much money the passengers spend on board the ship. Things like Casino, Spa, shops Shore Excursions and the bars and restaurants are where the profit is. The actual cost of the cruise is a wish or at least they attempt to make it a wash with operating costs. Some sailings are not so especially when they give them away at the end. Where the profit is, is with on board spending. NCL learned a long time ago that passengers are NOT spending money if they are in their cabins. If they give you lots of things to see and do and crew out there to assist you in enjoying this you will spend more money. What's the saying "Build it and they will come" :D

NCL tends to draw passengers of all ages but I find they have over all less kids than CCL and RCI. But the entertainment and things to see and do are all over the ship. You come out of a show and there are Crew members guiding you to where you can go next to keep enjoying the evening.

Shops on board are also more plentiful granted not nearly like the shops on board use to be 10 years ago on HAL but definitely not the same old tired stuff I see cruise after cruise on HAL. I remember a time that the first night after dinner on a HAL ship we would spend at least $300 stocking up on nice Logo golf shirts for Tom and me picking up several nice Logo items for women and anything new I could find. It has probably been at least 5 or 6 HAL cruises since we could find anything to buy in the shops. On NCL I go on board knowing I am going to spend at least $800++ between the spa, dining shopping. Our last HAL cruise we went seriously thinking we would spend a lot since this was Tom's makeup cruise and sadly we went back to our cabin by 8 every night except for New Years. The ship was like a hospital after visiting hours even the casino hardly had anyone there. My idea of entertainment is NOT trivia at 7pm in the Mix :(

 

Sadly I feel HAL is in a spiral going down, because they are not making the money on board they keep cutting back on many of their ships (granted maybe not all) but they are cutting in areas that could make them money but they are not seeing it.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I've sailed NCL Sun and didn't care for them at all or the Ship. We thought the food except in the Specialty Restaurants was awful! We had a balcony room and thought the furnishings was chintzy and the room smaller and the Shower tiny (and I'm not a big person). Also, wasn't a fan of how they handled Anytime Dining!

 

Different Strokes for Different Folks! :)

I do not want to argue about what your experience was just curious when was this NCL Sun cruise?

[candbgirl]

I don`t understand why people are so afraid of this topic that they object to it being on the board. I, for one, appreciate the comparisons and especially information from LAFFNVEGAS who has long been a valued member of this board. No one can `recruit` potential passengers - we are all grown-up people with a mind of our own.:rolleyes: I think most people are interested in the information and can do with it what they choose. Let`s not try to censor it.

 

 

Thank you! I come here for information not just a one sided look at HAL. The cheerleaders don't have to read or participate in any thread they deem wrong or wrongly placed. I've never been on NCL but I may try it. My well traveled sister has and she said it was so much fun. I've been on many cruises on many cruise lines and I have never had a bad cruise. Maybe if the cheerleaders were more open minded they would allow themselves to be introduced to whole new adventures in cruising.

[travelnap]

I have not had a bad cruise on any line that I have sailed with, but NCL and HAL are my favorite cruise lines. Yes, they are different in some ways, but I enjoy them both. Each line has their pluses and minuses to me, but the one thing that stands out on both lines to me is the friendliness of the crew and staff. Both NCL and HAL have the friendliest staff at sea from my experiences. The service has always been top notch on both lines. I cruise solo so I am not a big MDR person, but I have not gone hungry on any cruise line that I have sailed on. I think that there have been cutbacks on all the mass market lines, not just NCL and HAL.

[YubaSutter]

There are several of us here (probably more than a handful) that were fiercely loyal to HAL that now feel the same way about NCL. I would say those of you that like the vista class would probably like the jewel class IF you keep an open mind. DW and I can't for the life of us figure out why NCL was getting such complaints about dining room food. We think it is great. Plus, they treat suite guests as a pampered lap dog being pet for hours ;)

 

Many people here on the HAL forum talk Norwegian down because of things they have heard, or because Norwegian is a "mass market" line and HAL is holier than thou premium. I will straight up say that I have caught myself comparing Norwegian in the premium bracket more than once. Sure they have rock walls and ropes courses, but in the end it is the SERVICE that counts, and the ability of staff to assist. NCL is becoming the new premium IMHO. I'd rather pay for a good show and enjoy it than sit through a free hatchet job.

 

DW and I are Sailing NCL exclusively now, but still pop in here because I have lots of good memories on HAL.

 

 

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I have found the service on NCL to be similar to HAL.

[idiebabe]

I do not want to argue about what your experience was just curious when was this NCL Sun cruise?

 

Nothing to argue about? Wow, that's kind of an odd thing to say, don't you think? Actually, extremely odd as everyone has their own likes and dislikes especially when it comes to food, Service, quality and even size of Ships! Are you the Owner of NCL to take someone's opinion that is different from yours so personal? :rolleyes:

 

To answer your question I was on her about 4 years ago!

Edited August 29, 2014 by idiebabe

[SteveH2508]

Specialty restaurant up charges and premium entertainment up charges. Like I said, I'd rather pay for a premium show (blue man group) than suffer through the dreck that HAL puts out. DW and I are 3 star and have sailed on over half of the HAL fleet, so we have a good idea of the product they have ;(

 

 

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The upcharge for Blue Man group is for the meal (same applies for Illusionarium on the Getaway etc.) There is one 'meal + entertainment' option on the newer NCL ships. The rest of the (superb IMHO) entertainment is 'free'.

 

NCL has lots of choices for up-charge restaurants (more than most other lines) BUT they have a lot of included dining options as well (How these food options stack up against other lines is a question of personal taste - personally - they work for us:D).

[candbgirl]

Nothing to argue about? Wow, that's kind of an odd thing to say, don't you think? Actually, extremely odd as everyone has their own likes and dislikes especially when it comes to food, Service, quality and even size of Ships! Are you the Owner of NCL to take someone's opinion that is different from yours so personal? :rolleyes:

 

 

 

To answer your question I was on her about 4 years ago!

 

 

Wow!! Just wow! I don't think Laffn was the one taking something personally! Things can change a lot in 4 years as HAL cruisers sadly know!

[sammiedawg]

I too am puzzled why some are so defensive of Holland America, which has been in steady decline. I don't feel this is a recruiting thread. I've enjoyed reading the good reports about NCL, especially from LAFFNVEGAS. We've never been exclusive to one line, variety is the spice of life. We are loving Oceania (there are countless former HAL cruisers on their roll calls and on board their ships). Princess is a good choice as well for us, their food has really improved as Holland America declined.

The full service cruise agent who handles our Oceania bookings said NCL is on the upswing.

Edited August 29, 2014 by sammiedawg

[buckirj1]

NCL is my favorite cruise line because they do best those things that are important to me. HAL is still under consideration, but everything would have to align just right for me to think seriously about booking.

[Murray's Pop]

Back to the original question from the OP, we have sailed mostly on HAL, but in the past 3-4 years have been adding more NCL cruises. We have also sailed on Celebrity (last year) and enjoy them for their beverage package and suite perks.

 

When planning a cruise, we still look at what HAL has to offer first, then start comparing to NCL, Celebrity, and Princess. For example, we have been looking for a Bermuda cruise for next year. We have pretty much eliminated HAL from the running due to their very limited offerings to Bermuda. In cost comparisons for a suite between NCL and X, NCL for us has the better offerings.

 

There are several things I don't particularly relish on NCL -

 

• the "graffiti" paint job
  
• the colors and decor on some ships
  
• the physical layout of some ships (Sun in particular)
  

Back in 2005 our exclusive choice was HAL, in the years since we have been choosing NCL and now Celebrity a bit more.

[iancal]

Why is it either or?

 

We enjoy both cruise lines, plus a few others.

 

We would never think of limiting ourselves to one cruise line. Very boring.

Edited August 29, 2014 by iancal

[SteveH2508]

You can't see the 'graffiti paint job' from on board the ship so what's the problem?:confused:

 

Do you not fly on a particular airline because of the colour of their aeroplanes?

[Cruise_More_Often]

We are long-time NCL cruisers who are trying HAL next month because of the wonderful itinerary. It's fun to try different lines. Our first cruise (way back in the early 90's) was on HAL, but we haven't been back since then. We've also been on RCI and Princess (loved RCI, Princess not so much). So far, nothing compares to NCL, and the little Sun is our very favorite ship.

 

Most NCL ships have two Main Dining Rooms, and one is a little smaller than the other. We love the smaller MDR restaurants, but we do eat in the alternative restaurants way more often.

 

NCL ships' staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. Upper level staff, including the captain, appear at the Meet & Greet meetings, give a little talk and hand out their cards, asking that we contact them if we need anything. They really care that you're there, and, when they see you on the ship later, they remember you. And they are visible, always walking around the ship.

 

The three things I like most about NCL ships are the design (vibrant, fun), the entertainment (extremely well-done shows in the main theater; modern groups in the Atrium and lounges; something fun is going on all over the ships) and their wonderful staff.